Coupling multiple low data rate lines to effect high data rate communication

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for linking multiple baseband telephone lines to provide broadband communication. The apparatus comprises a broadband port, a plurality of baseband ports, and a controller. The broadband port provides connection to a broadband device or broadband communication line. The baseband ports provide connection to baseband communication lines. The controller integrates baseband data streams accepted at the baseband ports into a broadband data stream for transmission at the broadband port, and/or demultiplexes a broadband data stream received at the broadband port into baseband streams for transmission at the baseband ports. The baseband data include message data corresponding to the message data of the broadband stream, and control data describing an interrelationship among the message data, for controlling integrating of said baseband message data. The invention allows an individual to use multiple plain old telephone service (POTS) lines in combination to emulate the capability of a broadband line.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a method and apparatus for connectinghigh data rate telephone calls over conventional low data rate telephonelines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Communication network subscribers have the option of subscribingto plain old telephone service (POTS) or high data rate service, e.g.ISDN (integrated services digital network). POTS is suitable for voicecommunication, low data rate data communications, and computertransmission via modem and facsimile. ISDN service is suitable for highdata rate data communications, e.g. high data rate computertransmissions and video.

[0003] To have access to the greater data rate of ISDN service, asubscriber must make arrangements before he needs the high data rate tohave the ISDN service connected. In many situations, however, theindividual does not have the option to have ISDN service connected, e.g.when calling from a public area. ISDN service has the additionaldisadvantages that the subscriber (a) has to pay to have the ISDN lineinstalled and (b) has to pay a monthly fee for the ISDN connection inexcess of that for a POTS connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention provides method and apparatus by which a telephonesubscriber can obtain the benefits of high data rate communication usinglow data rate (baseband) POTS telephone lines. Individuals using theinvention will be able to take advantage of higher data ratecommunication on demand, from any location with multiple POTS linesinstalled, and without being charged for connection to ISDN service.

[0005] In general, in one aspect, the invention features a broadbandport for connection to a broadband device or broadband communicationline; baseband ports for connection to baseband communication lines; acontroller for integrating baseband data streams accepted at saidbaseband ports into a broadband data stream for transmission at saidbroadband port, said accepted baseband data including message data forconveyance at said broadband port and control data describing aninterrelationship among the message data received on said basebandports, and for demultiplexing a broadband data stream received at thebroadband port into a plurality of baseband data streams fortransmission at the baseband ports.

[0006] The advantages of the invention include the following. Abroadband call can be placed to or from a location where no broadbandline is available. For instance, in an airport, a user could use two orfour adjoining pay stations to connect a broadband call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagrams of a telephone network, includingapparatus in accordance with the invention.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a node in accordance with theinvention.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing setting up a node and adapter withina network.

[0010]FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing connection of ISDN calls overPOTS lines.

DESCRIPTION

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the invention allows a telephone user totie together several POTS lines, and thereby achieve high data ratecommunications over low data rate POTS lines. In the embodiment of FIGS.1-2, the high data rate data ordinarily carried over an ISDN line 102 ofa telephone network 100 are parceled out over four POTS lines 104, 108,112; a fifth POTS line 106, 110, 114 is used to coordinate the data ofthe other four 104, 108, 112. This tying together is accomplished by twocooperating devices: an adapter 118 at the user's location, and a node300 that is part of network 100. The user's ISDN terminal 120 connectsto one side of the adapter; the five POTS lines 104, 106 connect to theother. The five POTS lines 104, 106 connect through POTS lines 108, 110,112, 114 to node 300.

[0012] Node 300 interfaces POTS lines 112, 114 to ISDN line 102. Fordata bound from local terminal 120 to remote device 122 (right-to-leftin FIGS. 1 and 2), node 300 uses the coordination data of fifth POTSline 114 to reassemble data on the other four lines 112 into a singleISDN stream; this stream is delivered to a remote ISDN device 122 in theconventional fashion over ISDN line 102. Similarly, data from the remotedevice 122 travel on a conventional ISDN line (left-to-right FIGS. 1 and2) to reach node 300. Node 300 apportions these high-rate data among thefour POTS lines 112, and transmits coordination data on the fifth POTSline 114. When these data reach adapter 118, adapter 118 usescoordination data of fifth POTS line 106 to reassemble the original datastream. Adapter 118 presents the reassembled data to ISDN terminal 120as if they had arrived on a conventional ISDN line.

[0013] A conventional network 100 includes POTS lines 104-114 and ISDNPRI (primary rate interface) lines 102 that are routed through a numberof switches 130, 132, 134 from a local terminal 120 to a remote device122. The lines included in this connection will typically be owned byseveral different carriers, e.g., a local exchange carrier (LEC) 140 andan inter-exchange carrier (IXC) 142. The network lines will include anISDN PRI line 102 and POTS lines 104-114.

[0014] Conventionally, a voice/video device 122 that requires ISDNcommunication is connected to an ISDN line 102 of network 100. Such ISDNdevices can include computer or video terminals or any other type ofsystem that requires a ISDN connection.

[0015] A user who wishes to use a ISDN device, e.g., a voice/videoterminal 120, but who has no ISDN line 102 reaching his location, usesadapter 118 to connect his voice/video terminal 120 to the POTS lines104, 106 of network 100. Terminal 120 is connected to adapter 118,typically using voice, data, and video lines 150, or a line havingtransmission characteristics essentially similar to those of an ISDNline 102. Adapter 118 acts as a multiplexer/demultiplexer: when terminal120 generates data for transmission over network 100, adapter 118disassembles the ISDN data stream received on lines 150 into four datastreams, and transmits these four low data rate streams over POTS lines104. An additional data stream, that includes data to control thereassembly of the four data streams into a single ISDN data stream, isgenerated by adapter 118 and transmitted over a fifth POTS line 106.

[0016] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the message data of the originalISDN line 102, 150 are carried on four POTS lines 104, 108, 112 with afifth POTS line 106, 110, 114 carrying coordination data. The number ofPOTS lines 104, 108, 112 used in any particular embodiment will varywith the data rates required by the communication between terminal 120and device 122 and the data rate capacity of the individual POTS lines.Because an ISDN line has a capacity of 112,000 bits/sec, many devicesuse this as the maximum data rate at which they will transmit. Four POTSlines, at 28,800 bits/sec. each, are sufficient, collectively, to meetthe 112,000 bits/sec. capacity requirement. Devices that have higherdata rates would require more POTS lines, and devices that have lowerdata rates could use fewer. Similarly, as POTS modem rates improve,fewer lines will be required to provide the data rate of a single ISDNline.

[0017] Travelling over the POTS lines 104-114 of the network 100, thesefive POTS lines reach node 300, located in network 100. The geographicallocation of node 300 is immaterial; the switches 130-134 will arrange acontinuous circuit from adapter 118 to node 300 as part of connectingthe call.

[0018] To support adapter 118, the telephone network incorporates node300. Node 300 has the capability to reassemble the four data streams onPOTS lines 112, using control and coordination information from POTSline 114, into a single ISDN data stream for transmission over ISDN line102.

[0019] In another embodiment, the message data and coordination data aredistributed evenly over voice lines 104-114. For instance, a 56Kbits/sec data stream can be carried over three voice lines, eachcarrying 28,800 bits/sec. In this configuration, each of the three linescarry a third of the message data and a third of the coordination data.The data would be grouped in packets, and each third packet would besent over each of the three lines: line 1 might carry packets 0, 3, 6,9, 12, . . . , line 2 might carry packets 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, . . . andline 3 might carry packets 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, . . . The framing header ofeach packet would bear a synchronization stamp, for instance, a 16-bitfield incremented from 0 to 65,535, circularly. At the receiving end,the packets are buffered, until they can be processed in synchronizationstamp order.

[0020] ISDN PRI line 102 connects node 300 to a remote voice or videodevice 122. Line 102 is routed from node 300 to remote device 122through several switches 134. Typically ISDN line 102 will includesegments owned by two or more different carriers, just as lines 104-114were owned by the LEC 140 and IXC 142. Device 122 receives the data online 102 and displays them as video, or presents them as sound, asagreed by the local terminal 120 and remote device 122.

[0021] Data produced by remote device 122 will be transmitted to thenetwork over ISDN line 102 to node 300. Node 300 will disassemble data102 into four low data rate data streams 112, plus a fifth stream ofcoordination data 114. POTS lines 104-114 will convey these data back toadapter 118. Adapter 118 will use coordination data received on fifthPOTS line 106 to reassemble the four low-data rate streams 104 into asingle ISDN stream 150. This ISDN stream will then be conveyed to thelocal terminal 120, for appropriate display or presentation.

[0022]FIG. 3 shows a more detailed block diagram of node 300. Node 300has an ISDN port 302 for connection to ISDN line 102. For each POTS line112, 114 to be connected to node 300, node 300 has a modem and POTS port306. The modems and ports together form a modem bank 304. In someembodiments, node 300 might have one ISDN port 302 and five POTS modemports 306. In other embodiments, node 300 might have several ISDN ports302, and roughly five times as many POTS modem ports 306, so that node300 can route several calls between several pairs of terminals 120 anddevices 122 simultaneously.

[0023] For conveying data from/to modem bank to/from ISDN port 302, node300 has a data processor 310. Data processor 310 includes a CPU 312 anda memory 314. Memory 314 includes a database memory 318 and storage forthe program code executed by CPU 312. Database 318 stores informationabout the connections and interrelationships between the POTS lines 112,114 and the ISDN lines 102. For example, database 318 might storeinformation recording that POTS ports one through five are connected toISDN line number three and store the phone numbers of the lines to whichPOTS ports one through five are connected to. CPU 312 executes softwarethat reads the coordination data received on POTS line 114 and uses themto reassemble the message data received on POTS lines 112 fortransmission on ISDN line 102. CPU 312 also executes software thatdisassembles data received at ISDN port 302 and transmits them at theappropriate POTS ports 306. Each POTS port 306 has a buffer to storereceived message data temporarily, until the reassembly information isreceived over the fifth POTS line. Similarly, the buffers hold outgoingmessage data until the coordination of the streams is completed. Themultiplexing and demultiplexing functions are performed by CPU 312according to methods used by multiplexers and demultiplexers inconventional telephone circuit switches.

[0024] At the level of detail of the block diagram of FIG. 3, adapter118 is essentially similar to the node 300 shown in FIG. 3, except thatadapter 118 has only one set of POTS lines and one ISDN line, ratherthen the n sets of POTS lines and n ISDN lines shown in FIG. 3. Indeed,both adapter 118 and node 300 could be two “boxes” of the same model (ofcourse one, adapter 118, would be physically located at the local user'slocation, and the other, node 300, would be geographically located atthe convenience of the carrier) though the programming of the two CPU'smight differ slightly.

[0025]FIG. 4 illustrates a setup phase, where a user informs thetelephone service provider of the existence of adapter 118, and itsconfiguration relative to network 100. FIG. 5 illustrates the steps ofconnecting a ISDN call over network 100, using the information providedduring the setup phase of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 illustrates connecting a callfrom terminal 120 to device 122.

[0026] Referring primarily to FIG. 4 and secondarily to FIGS. 1, 2 and3, to connect adapter 118 to network 100, in step 410, the userdetermines the number of telephone lines needed to convey an ISDN call.This determination will consider the baud rate of the ISDN line that isto be emulated and the baud rate of the individual POTS lines. With thisnumber in hand, the user ensures that a sufficient number of POTS linesare installed. In the remaining steps of the method, either the phonenumbers of node 300 and lines 112-114 are determined and stored in amemory of adapter 118, or else the phone numbers of lines 104-106 ofadapter 118 are determined and stored in a memory of node 300. It may beadvantageous to do both.

[0027] In step 412, the user determines the telephone numbers of thetelephone lines he intends to use to send or receive a ISDN call. Instep 414, the local user connects the POTS lines 104, 106 to adapter118. In some embodiments, the user notes the correspondence between thephone numbers of the lines and the ports of the adapter to which thelines are connected, so that node 300 and adapter 118 can agree whichsignals are to be transmitted on which lines.

[0028] In step 416, the local user notifies the communication serviceprovider 142 of the number of telephone lines 104 connected to adapter118 and the telephone numbers of those telephone lines. In theembodiments discussed above, the user also notifies the provider of thecorrespondence between the telephone numbers and the adapter ports towhich the lines are connected. The user can so notify the communicationservice provider 142 through any suitable means, e.g. a telephone call.In step 418, the communication service provider 142 stores into database520 the number of the telephone lines 104, 106 connected to adapter 118,the telephone numbers of the telephone lines 104, 106 and the order thetelephone lines were connected to adapter 118. In step 420, the callbetween local terminal 120 and the communication service provider isdisconnected. Adapter 118 is now prepared to receive an inbound ISDNcall over the telephone lines 104, 106 (step 422).

[0029] In some embodiments, steps 412-418 are automated. The user neednot take special care to record the correspondence between the phonenumbers and the ports of adapter 118. In these embodiments, the adapterhas a processor and memory. As a multi-POTS-line ISDN call is beingconnected, the node's CPU 312 will communicate with the processor atadapter 118. This communication will establish the correspondencebetween node ports 306 and the respective ports of adapter 118. In onefamily of such embodiments, steps 414, 416, and 418 might proceed asfollows. The user stores all of the phone numbers of the adapter POTSports into the memory of adapter 118, and gives a “setup network”command to adapter 118. Adapter 118 then calls the network using one ofits POTS lines 106, e.g., reaching CPU 312 of node 300. Over this call,adapter 118 tells node 300 the number of POTS lines connected, and thephone numbers of lines 104, 106. This information is stored in database520.

[0030] Alternatively, the local user can simply plug a sufficient numberof phone lines into adapter 118. When the user directs adapter 118 toperform the initialization process of FIG. 4, adapter 118 tests itsmodem ports to determine how many lines 104-106 are connected. Adapter118 calls to node 300 on a single line, typically calling a hunt groupphone number of node 300, programmed into adapter 118. Adapter 118 tellsnode 300 the number n of lines 104-106 that are connected. Node 300responds by reserving n-1 ports 306, and communicating to adapter 118the n-1 phone numbers of the reserved lines 112, 114 over which toconnect.

[0031] Alternatively, the local user can simply plug a sufficient numberof phone lines into adapter 118. During the initialization process ofFIG. 4, adapter 118 tests its modem ports to determine how many linesare connected. Adapter 118 will then call telephone node 300 over eachof the connected lines, and allow a caller ID feature to identify thephone number on which the adapter is calling to CPU 312 of node 300.Node 300 can then hang up and call back to adapter 118 on theseidentified lines. Adapter 118 and node 300 will exchange information toassociated the lines of the broadband call with each other, and todistinguish these calls from the calls of other calls to node 300 fromother adapters 118.

[0032] Alternatively, when the first call is connected, node 300 canprovide to adapter 118 over this first call n-1 telephone numbers of n-1baseband ports 306 of node 300, to which adapter 118 can call to connectthe n-1 additional baseband phone calls.

[0033] Alternatively, the n telephone numbers of n baseband ports 306can be stored in a non-volatile memory of adapter 118.

[0034] Alternatively, each adapter 118 can have a node phone numberreserved to it, and all lines of adapter 118 can be phoned to node 300on that single phone number (with call roll-over) so that the individualvoice lines 104-114 of a single broad band call are associated with eachother.

[0035] Alternatively, each adapter 118 can have a unique device ID, forinstance encoded in a non-volatile ROM. When the adapter 118 calls in onthe n lines, the device ID can be exchanged over the n lines so thatnode 300 can associate the associate the calls from a single node 118.

[0036] Alternatively, when the first call is connected, node 300 cangenerate a unique call tag value, and communicate this to adapter 118.As adapter 118 connects the n-1 remaining calls to ports 306, adapter118 provides this call tag value to node 300, which in turn uses thecall tag value to associate the n separate baseband calls into a singlegroup.

[0037]FIG. 5 illustrates connecting a call, in the case where a calloriginates at remote device 122 (at the left end of FIGS. 1 and 2) tolocal terminal 120 (at the right end). Referring primarily to FIG. 5 andsecondarily to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in step 502, the remote device makes aISDN call over ISDN lines 102 using the procedures conventionally usedto connect to any other ISDN device. Usually this ISDN call will be madeover a translatable telephone number, e.g. an 800 service telephonenumber, such that reference to a database will be required to connectthe call.

[0038] In step 504, network switch 132 intercepts the call, recognizingthe destination phone number as one that must be connected over multiplePOTS lines rather than over an end-to-end ISDN line. Switch 132 has adatabase 520, analogous to the database that translates “800” numbersinto a true area code and phone number. In steps 506-510, switch 132uses this database to connect three call segments. A first segment, ISDNline 522, connects switch 132 and node 300. A second segment, over POTSlines 112, 114, connects node 300 and switch 132. A third segment, POTSlines 104-110, connects switch 132 to adapter 118. Steps 506-510 may bereordered relative to each other, or may be overlapped in time.

[0039] In step 506, switch 132 consults database 520 to translate theISDN phone number dialed by remote device 122 into the telephone numberof at least one of the POTS lines 104, 106 connected to adapter 118 atthe local user's location. In one embodiment, database 520 stores thenumber of POTS lines 104, 106 connected to adapter 118, the phone numberof each of these lines, and the association between each line and thecorresponding port of adapter 118.

[0040] In step 508, switch 132 connects the appropriate calls over lines104-114 in accordance with the information obtained in step 506 fromdatabase 520. As the lines 104-110 are connected, node 300 and adapter118 will test the lines to determine their quality and capacity. Forinstance, some voice lines will carry a full 28.8 Kbits/sec; asdiscussed above, it is believed that three of these lines will readilycarry the message data and coordination data for a 56 K bit/sectransmission. However, if the lines are somewhat noisy orill-conditioned, then the set up phase of FIG. 4 may determine that aline can only carry less than 28.8 Kbits/sec, and that more than threelines are needed.

[0041] In step 510, switch 132 connects POTS segments 112 and 114 andISDN segment 522. The number of POTS lines in segment 112 will agreewith the number of POTS lines 104 determined by consultation of database520. In making these connections, the connection of respective lines ofsegments 112, 114 to lines 104-110 will be made to preserve the properassociation between modem ports 306 (FIG. 3) of node 300 to the POTSports of adapter 118. For example, the coordination data line 114 ofnode 300 will be connected to coordination data line 106 of adapter 118,not to message data line 104.

[0042] In step 512, a high data rate call is connected between terminal120 and device 122. Part of the call is carried over ISDN lines 102,522, from device 122 to node 300, and part over POTS lines 104-114 fromnode 300 to adapter 118. Control software, primarily in switch 132, hasconsulted database 520 to ensure that the POTS lines 104-110 aresufficient in number to carry the data rate of ISDN line 102, and thatPOTS lines 104-114 connect ports of node 300 to corresponding ports ofadapter 118.

[0043] In the embodiment described, steps 506, 508, and 510 areperformed by switch 132. Alternatively, much of the handshaking toestablish the multiple POTS connections can be performed by node 300.Similarly, database 520 of information required to connect the multiplePOTS calls may reside at, or be distributed among, any of severallocations. For example, FIG. 1 shows database 520 connected to switch132. In a first alternative, much of the information of database 520could reside in a database connected to node 300, e.g. database 318 ofnode 300 (FIG. 3).

[0044] In a second alternative embodiment, database 520 could store onlya single one of the phone numbers of local ISDN terminal 120, and muchof the remaining information could be stored in a database residing inadapter 118. In this alternative, for example, switch 132 wouldinitially connect to adapter 118 over a single POTS line 106, 110 andswitch 132; then adapter 118 and switch 132 would handshake to exchangeinformation over this initial call, to establish the additional callsrequired to complete the high data rate call over multiple POTS lines.This handshaking could include, for example, adapter 118 providing toswitch 132 the phone numbers of the remaining POTS ports 104 of adapter118. Switch 132 would then connect the additional POTS calls over thephone numbers provided during the initial handshaking.

[0045] Steps 508 and 510 establish the n calls between node 300 andadapter 118, and establish a correspondence of the calls to each other.Many alternative embodiments of these steps exist, for instance thosecorresponding to the alternative embodiments of steps 416-418 discussedabove. These alternatives will be readily understood by one of ordinaryskill, without elaboration here.

[0046] Referring primarily to FIG. 6 and secondarily to FIGS. 1, 2, and3, a high data rate call from the local terminal 120 to the remotedevice 122 is completed in accord with method 600, using the setupinformation established by the method of FIG. 4. In step 610, the localuser issues a command to adapter 118 to connect a call to the desiredISDN phone number of remote device 122. In step 612, adapter 118connects a single POTS call to node 300.

[0047] In step 614, processor 312 in node 300, and processors in switch132 and adapter 118 handshake over this single line. The processorsconsult database 318 in node 300, database 520 in switch 132, and adatabase (if any) in the memory of node 118. This handshakingestablishes the number of POTS calls 104-114 required to carry the datarate of the ISDN line 102, the phone numbers which must be dialed,whether node 300 is to dial adapter 118 or vice-versa, and thecorrespondence between the phone numbers and ports of node 300 andadapter 118. One correspondence might be to note the order in which thelines are connected to the ports of adapter 118. For example, node 300might provide to adapter 118 four additional phone numbers for adapter118 to call, over which to establish the message lines 104, 106, 112.Another would be to establish this correspondence by handshakinginformation between node 300 and adapter 118. Another would be toassociate the lines in the order that the calls are connected.

[0048] Typically, the additional POTS calls will be placed by adapter118 to node 300 so that tolls will be billed correctly, although it isalso possible that the additional POTS calls will be connected by node300 to adapter 118. In the adapter-calls-node configuration, it ispreferred that node 300 reserve the appropriate number of inbound POTSports 306, so that these lines will be available as adapter 118 calls toconnect the individual lines.

[0049] In step 616 (which may proceed in parallel with step 614), theISDN link 102 between node 300 and remote device 122 is established.

[0050] In step 618, the ISDN call is connected between terminal 120 anddevice 122. ISDN message communication may now begin.

[0051] It is to be understood that the above description is only of onepreferred embodiment of the invention. Numerous other arrangements maybe derived by one skilled in the art, without departing from the scopeof the invention. The invention is thus limited only as defined in theaccompanying claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for conveying data of a broadbandtelephone call, comprising the steps: receiving a broadband data streamat a first port; demultiplexing said broadband data stream into a firstplurality of baseband data streams, and developing control signals toenable recreation of the broadband data stream from the baseband datastreams with a latency that is unrelated to structure of data containedin the broadband data stream; and transmitting said baseband datastreams as well as the control signals over a second plurality ofbaseband channels, each of aid baseband channels having a transmissioncapacity less than the capacity necessary to carry said broadband datastream.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:receiving said baseband data streams and said control signal combiningthe received baseband data streams under direction of the receivedcontrol signals to reassemble the broadband data stream, and conveyingsaid reassembled data stream to a second port.
 3. The method of claim 1where said control signals enable recreation of the broadband datastream from the baseband data streams with a latency that is relatedsolely to transmission delays of the baseband data streams.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 where said first plurality is equal to said secondplurality.
 5. The method of claim 1 where said second plurality isgreater than said first plurality.
 6. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising the step of: establishing a correspondence between thebaseband data streams and the received baseband data streams, saidcorrespondence being reflected in said control data.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein said establishing of said correspondence comprisesrecording an order in which baseband channels are connected to basebandports for said baseband data streams.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein:said baseband data streams are partitioned between at least one controlstream and at least one message streams said control stream or streamsconveying primarily said control data, and said message stream orstreams conveying primarily message data of said broadband data stream.9. The method of claim 6 wherein said establishing of saidcorrespondence comprises detecting an originating phone number of atleast one of said baseband data streams at a receiving port for said atleast one of said baseband data streams.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising a step, at a time of connecting said baseband datastreams, of computing a count of a number of said baseband data streamsrequired to collectively carry said broadband data stream.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising a step of notifying acommunication service provider or a communications subscriber of atelephone number of a baseband port at a place of said multiplexing sothat the provider or subscriber can use the telephone number to connecta broadband call.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, as partof connecting said baseband data streams, the step of consulting anon-volatile memory in which is stored at least one of the telephonenumbers over which said baseband data streams is to be connected. 13.Apparatus for linking multiple baseband telephone lines to providebroadband communication, comprising: a broadband port for connection toa broadband device or broadband communication line; baseband ports forconnection to baseband communication lines; and a controller fordemultiplexing a broadband data stream received at said broadband portinto a plurality of baseband data streams for transmission at saidbaseband ports, said baseband data including message data collectivelyencoding said broadband data and control data describing a multiplexinginterrelationship among the message data transmitted at said basebandports.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said controller is furtherconfigured to integrate baseband data streams accepted at said basebandports into a broadband data stream for transmission at said broadbandport, said accepted baseband data including message data for conveyanceat said broadband port and control data describing an interrelationshipamong the message data received on each of said baseband ports, forcontrolling said integrating of said received baseband message data. 15.The apparatus of any of claim 13, wherein said controller furthercomprises. means for coordinating with a remote device over saidbaseband lines, said coordinating including: connecting said basebandlines between said baseband ports and said remote device, andestablishing a correspondence between respective ones of said basebandports of the apparatus and baseband ports of said remote device, saidcorrespondence for use in said control data's interrelationshipdescription.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: said establishingincludes noting an order in which said baseband communication lies reconnected to said baseband ports.
 17. The apparatus of claim 13, furthercomprising: means for notifying a communication service provider or acommunications subscriber of a telephone number of at least one of saidbaseband ports so that the provider or subscriber can a conventionaltelephone line to establish a broadband call.
 18. The apparatus of claim13, further comprising: means for determining a number of said basebandlines that in combination have sufficient data capacity to carry saidbroadband data stream and said control data.
 19. The apparatus of claim13, wherein: said baseband ports are partitioned into control ports andmessage ports, said controller being configured to convey said controldata primarily at said control ports, and said message data primarily atsaid message ports.
 20. A communications network, comprising: first andsecond apparatus, each according to claim 13; a broadband lineconnecting said broadband port of said first apparatus with a broadbandterminal, said broadband line being of a length requiring an amplifieror repeater; and a plurality of baseband lines, each said baseband lineconnecting a baseband port of said first apparatus with a correspondingbaseband port of said second apparatus, each of said baseband linesbeing of a length to require an amplifier or repeater.
 21. Thecommunications network of claim 20, further comprising: a non-volatilememory describing the plurality of baseband ports of said firstapparatus; a switch configured to query said memory on receipt of a callfrom said second apparatus; and provide to said second apparatus a phonenumber at which to connect each of said plurality of baseband lines; acall establishing means configured to connect a call to said switch, andresponsive to the switch's provided phone number or numbers, to connectcalls between the baseband ports of said second apparatus and thebaseband ports of said first apparatus.
 22. The communication network ofclaim 21, further comprising: means for identifying the originatingphone number of a call from said first to said second apparatus, and forstoring said originating phone number in said non-volatile memory.